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Bull Elk With Atypical Antler
This gorgeous bull has one strange thing about him... his left antler is non-typical. If you look closely, the main beam branches into two beams, which isn't the 'standard' design and doesn't match his right antler.
Unusual antler growth like this may be genetic or may be the result of injury. The injury could be to the antler itself, when the growth is very new or the injury could be to another body part, such as the opposite side leg or shoulder. Blood flow to the antler can be disrupted while an injury is healing and the antler grows in a strange way.
I've seen these bulls by Lake Talbot over several seasons and haven't noticed this before, so it probably isn't genetic and may be the result of the antler taking a knock when it was very new. Another potential cause is a skull fracture, which could happen during a battle with another bull during the rutt. The fractured skull could fully heal but the antler could grow in unusual ways during future years.
We will see next year, whether I can spot the same bull with a non-typical antler or if it has gone back to growing 'normally'. These bulls are fairly easy to spot in July and August, so I'd be interested if anyone else has seen this bull with non-typical antler growth in other years.
He's still a beauty though and I'm sure he will have his harem in September.
Bull Elk With Atypical Antler
This gorgeous bull has one strange thing about him... his left antler is non-typical. If you look closely, the main beam branches into two beams, which isn't the 'standard' design and doesn't match his right antler.
Unusual antler growth like this may be genetic or may be the result of injury. The injury could be to the antler itself, when the growth is very new or the injury could be to another body part, such as the opposite side leg or shoulder. Blood flow to the antler can be disrupted while an injury is healing and the antler grows in a strange way.
I've seen these bulls by Lake Talbot over several seasons and haven't noticed this before, so it probably isn't genetic and may be the result of the antler taking a knock when it was very new. Another potential cause is a skull fracture, which could happen during a battle with another bull during the rutt. The fractured skull could fully heal but the antler could grow in unusual ways during future years.
We will see next year, whether I can spot the same bull with a non-typical antler or if it has gone back to growing 'normally'. These bulls are fairly easy to spot in July and August, so I'd be interested if anyone else has seen this bull with non-typical antler growth in other years.
He's still a beauty though and I'm sure he will have his harem in September.